tmh10
Major
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2012
- Location
- Pipestem,WV
I have been rereading Campbell Browns Civil War Book and couldn't resist one more post from it. I promise to quit after this one.
Ewell had with him the small commands of Custis Lee, Kershaw, and the Navy Batalion but was without any artillery. His men managed to hold back the ememy for a time but took a pounding from Federal artillery posted 800 yards away. In his 1888 letter to Venable, Campbell remembered the days fighting with pride. "Nothing could have been more gallant than the resistance of our poor fellows at Sailors creek." he wrote. The lines remained steady and repulsed two sharp attacks of portions of the 6th (Wrights) corps-holding there ground untill surrounded.
As Anderson attacked the enemy on his front, the Yankees forced a crossing of the creek above and below Ewell. Ewell rode forward to observe Anderson's attack, which lasted only 5 minutes and ended in the Confederates being repulsed. The situation was now desperate. It was impossible to move forward, and the enemy was swarming around both flanks. Anderson rode to join his command, while Ewell returned to the rear to try to march past the Yankees left flank as originally planned. In the rear Ewell was shocked to find that the enemy had turned both of his flanks. His planned escape route now was cut, and the Confederates were now caught in a deadly crossfire. Just then a lone Union Cavalry officer came riding up the road that Anderson had just galloped down. With all hope lost, Ewell had no choice but to surrender himself and staff to this lucky Yankee. In an attempt to prevent useless slaughter , Ewell then sent a message under a flag of truce to Custis Lee who was still gamely battling the enemy. Since he was now a prisoner, Ewell did not issue an order but simply told him his force was surrounded and recommended he surennder to avoid useless casualties. Lee, Kershaw, and the rest of the command, however, already had been captured by the time Ewell's message arrived. In the disaster, Ewell lost 2,800 men captured and about 150 killed and wounded.
Ewell had with him the small commands of Custis Lee, Kershaw, and the Navy Batalion but was without any artillery. His men managed to hold back the ememy for a time but took a pounding from Federal artillery posted 800 yards away. In his 1888 letter to Venable, Campbell remembered the days fighting with pride. "Nothing could have been more gallant than the resistance of our poor fellows at Sailors creek." he wrote. The lines remained steady and repulsed two sharp attacks of portions of the 6th (Wrights) corps-holding there ground untill surrounded.
As Anderson attacked the enemy on his front, the Yankees forced a crossing of the creek above and below Ewell. Ewell rode forward to observe Anderson's attack, which lasted only 5 minutes and ended in the Confederates being repulsed. The situation was now desperate. It was impossible to move forward, and the enemy was swarming around both flanks. Anderson rode to join his command, while Ewell returned to the rear to try to march past the Yankees left flank as originally planned. In the rear Ewell was shocked to find that the enemy had turned both of his flanks. His planned escape route now was cut, and the Confederates were now caught in a deadly crossfire. Just then a lone Union Cavalry officer came riding up the road that Anderson had just galloped down. With all hope lost, Ewell had no choice but to surrender himself and staff to this lucky Yankee. In an attempt to prevent useless slaughter , Ewell then sent a message under a flag of truce to Custis Lee who was still gamely battling the enemy. Since he was now a prisoner, Ewell did not issue an order but simply told him his force was surrounded and recommended he surennder to avoid useless casualties. Lee, Kershaw, and the rest of the command, however, already had been captured by the time Ewell's message arrived. In the disaster, Ewell lost 2,800 men captured and about 150 killed and wounded.
Bringing the